Detroit Zoological Society

CELEBRATING AND SAVING WILDLIFE & WILD PLACES - 1. DEMONSTRATE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION, ANIMAL WELFARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. 2. INSPIRE WITH ENGAGING, MEANINGFUL, MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES, AND EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO THE APPRECIATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE. 3. CELEBRATE AND VALUE BIODIVERSITY AND HUMAN DIVERSITY, WHILE ENSURING THAT OUR AUDIENCE, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REFLECT THE MULTICULTURAL FABRIC THAT IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. 4. PROVIDE INNOVATIVE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE REGION'S ECONOMIC VITALITY. 5. DEMONSTRATE ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE CONSISTENT WITH A COMMITMENT TO OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AS WELL AS PROGRESSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. *REVISED 2021, PENDING BOARD APPROVAL*

ANIMAL CARE, WELFARE AND CONSERVATION: THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONTINUES ITS PURPOSE OF CELEBRATING AND SAVING WILDLIFE BY DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP IN ANIMAL CARE, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL WELFARE. THE DETROIT ZOO AND BELLE ISLE NATURE CENTER HAD 2,649 INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS REPRESENTING 233 SPECIES IN ITS CARE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS A LEADER IN SPECIES CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FIELD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, ITS SUPPORT OF PARTNERS' FIELD CONSERVATION WORK THROUGH GRANTS AND TECHNICAL AND/OR ON-THE-GROUND ASSISTANCE, AND CAPTIVE BREEDING OF THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AT THE DETROIT ZOO AND BELLE ISLE NATURE CENTER. THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S CENTER FOR ZOO AND AQUARIUM ANIMAL WELFARE AND ETHICS IS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR CAPTIVE ANIMAL WELFARE KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES; A CONVENER AND FORUM FOR EXOTIC ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE, PRACTICE AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS; AND A CENTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND TRAINING, AND RECOGNIZING ADVANCES IN EXOTIC ANIMAL WELFARE.

EDUCATION: THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A BROAD AUDIENCE WITH OUTSTANDING AND UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO THE APPRECIATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE. HUMANE EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, SCIENCE LITERACY AND STEWARDSHIP ARE FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. PROGRAMS UTILIZE A VARIETY OF INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES - INCLUDING INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING, STORYTELLING, INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND CITIZEN SCIENCE - TO MEET THE VARIOUS LEARNING STYLES OF THE COMMUNITY. REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS ENHANCE HUMANE EDUCATION AND LIFE SCIENCE EXPERIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGH ONSITE PROGRAMS, TEACHER TRAINING AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT. DURING THE PANDEMIC, MUCH OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WAS MOVED TO THE INTERNET. THE DZS EDUCATION TEAM CREATED UNIQUE AND ENGAGING DAILY CONTENT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WITH ITS "VIRTUAL VENTURES" AND "VIRTUAL VITAMIN Z" PROGRAMS.

GUEST ENGAGEMENT: THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY WITH ENGAGING, MEANINGFUL AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES. SIGNIFICANT ANIMAL HABITATS/FACILITIES INCLUDE THE ARCTIC RING OF LIFE POLAR BEAR/SEAL HABITAT, THE DEVEREAUX TIGER FOREST, THE GREAT APES OF HARAMBEE, THE POLK PENGUIN CONSERVATION CENTER, THE COTTON FAMILY WOLF WILDERNESS, THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK ADVENTURE, AND THE NATIONAL AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION CENTER. THE DETROIT ZOO WELCOMES MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO ANIMAL EXPERIENCES, OTHER ATTRACTIONS AT THE ZOO INCLUDE THE 4-D THEATER, THE WILD ADVENTURE SIMULATOR, GIRAFFE ENCOUNTER, TAUBER FAMILY RAILROAD, SCIENCE ON A SPHERE, AND THE CAROUSEL. VISITORS CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ZOO-SPONSORED EVENTS INCLUDING GREENFEST, SUNSET AT THE ZOO, MEET YOUR BEST FRIEND AT THE ZOO, RUN WILD, ZOO BOO AND WILD LIGHTS. ATTENDANCE WAS STILL BELOW NORMAL IN 2021 DUE TO PANDEMIC CAPACITY LIMITS, HOWEVER THE DZS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE EXPERIENCE FOR THE LIMITED NUMBER OF GUESTS ALLOWED INTO THE PARK EACH DAY.

THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE CONSISTENT WITH A COMMITMENT TO OUTSTANDING SERVICE, PROGRESSIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENT LEADERSHIP. THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS GROUNDS OF 125 ACRES AND 78 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS WHERE STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE COMMITTED TO LESSENING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE EARTH. THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE, GREEN ROADMAP CALLED THE GREENPRINT. THIS COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDES OUR OPERATIONS AND IS THE PLAN BY WHICH WE REFINE AND IMPROVE OUR FACILITIES AND DAILY PRACTICES, DEVELOP NEW POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AND IMPROVE GREEN LITERACY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DZS IS COMMITTED TO PLANTING 2,000 TREES BY THE END OF 2023, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE POSITIVELY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.